New Project Launches to Strengthen Early Warning Systems in Cambodia and Lao People's Democratic Republic

The four-year, US$ 7.82 million Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) Initiative Cambodia & Lao PDR 2.0 project will build on a recently completed project to continue strengthening early warning systems in the two countries from September 2025 to 2029. This second phase will build on the strong foundation laid by the CREWS Cambodia and Lao PDR 1.0 project, which supported national institutions in improving their capabilities to forecast for key hazards such as floods, made significant strides in improving seasonal to sub-seasonal forecasting, and supported flood preparedness at local levels, ensuring inclusive end-to-end early warning systems were in place.

In Lao PDR, the project was set in motion on 26 November during a launch event in Vientiane, opened by UN Resident Coordinator Bakhodir Burkhanov, who expressed “Our collective aim is clear: to protect every person in Lao PDR through an inclusive, end-to-end, multi-hazard early warning/action system. To achieve it, we must close the financing gap, deepen technical cooperation, and keep a persistent focus on people, particularly those most at risk.”

In Cambodia, a launch event was hosted in Phnom Penh on 28 November. His Excellency Dr. An Pich Hatda Secretary of State, Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology closed the session with keynote remarks. He emphasised, “the Royal Government of Cambodia reaffirms its strong commitment to advancing early warning systems, promoting data-driven risk management, and ensuring that no one is left behind in the face of climate-related hazards.”

These events brought together national stakeholders in the respective countries, providing them with an opportunity to  explore the project’s scope, expected outcomes, and implementation timeline, demonstrate its alignment with national priorities—such as disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, and Early Warnings for All—while reinforcing institutional commitment, and promoting coordinated, shared ownership across all participating ministries, agencies, and development partners.

The project will now enter its inception phase, lasting several months. This will ensure all stakeholders share a clear, validated understanding of the project’s scope, objectives, governance, timeline, and risks, establishing the alignment and commitment needed for effective implementation. 

Looking ahead, the project will emphasize the integration of modern technologies and impact-based forecasting methodologies to ensure early warning services are actionable and user-oriented, including applications for anticipatory action. Collaboration with key sectoral partners will be expanded to translate forecasts into sector-specific products and guidance that directly informs planning and decision-making.

The project is funded by CREWS, led by WMO, and jointly implemented by the World Bank GFDRR and the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).